In mid-September, we packed up the van for a two-week vacation in Nebraska. We had a full schedule planned with lots of fun activities (like JR’s first marathon, a fishing party at the pasture and a trip to the pumpkin patch) and, of course, plenty of quality time with the grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins. Shortly after arriving, however, the focus of the trip changed pretty dramatically. We learned that JR’s dad has colon cancer and things moved pretty quickly toward his first surgery on October 1st. A second surgery followed, and he spent 3 weeks in the hospital before it was all said & done. All the while, JR took up the work on the farm (making fence, hauling cattle, getting ready for harvest, doing chores, etc.) and the girls & I settled in at the Andrews farm. We made some adjustments when Grandpa came to “live with us” (a quote from Livy) at his house, and got pretty used to farm life. But after eight weeks in Nebraska, Grandpa was getting around on his own, the cattle were sold, the bean harvest was complete and the corn would get out whenever the weather cooperated and extended family could get to it. Grandpa had chemo left to do, but they could manage that with out us, so back to Texas we went – in mid-November! And here it is Thanksgiving and Advent starts on Sunday and Livy’s 4th birthday is next weekend. As shocking as it sounds, time did not stand still while we were away. And it certainly hasn’t stood still since we got home either. We have big plans for updating the website and the photo album and writing about all our adventures, so stay tuned . . .

Thanks so much for all of your prayers and well-wishes during our 8 week odyssey. We are hopeful that JR’s dad will have a full recovery and grateful that we were able to play a part in making the best out of a bad situation. It’s really good to be home, but we’ll miss all y’all in NE, too!